R&D Food Technologist in Industry, California at GFF Inc - Plochman Inc

GEBERAL SUMMARY:

The R&D Food Technologist is a salaried position based in City of Industry, CA reporting to the R&D Manager. This role supports product development and commercialization for all manufacturing sites by preparing and submitting key documentation, including Request for Costing (RFC), New Product Set-Up (NPSU), Raw Material Set-Up (RMSU), and Specification Change Request (SCR); supports customer requests by creating product specifications with detailed analytical, physical, chemical & microbiological requirements to ensure sustainable consistency & food safety; applies food science knowledge to optimize process of dressings & sauces; assists R&D and Sales department with customer innovation sessions and presentations. Participates in production evaluation and problem solving for production challenges

JOB FUNCTIONS:

Prepares, submits and facilitates completion of key documentation including Request for Costing (RFC), New Product Set-Up (NPSU), Raw Material Set-Up (RMSU), and Specification Change Request (SCR)

Creates product specifications with detailed analytical, physical, chemical & microbiological requirements to ensure sustainable consistency & food safety.

Create nutrition label & ingredient statements in compliance with NLEA (Nutrition Labeling Enforcement Act); ensure compliance with nutrition label claims and adherence to industry and regulatory standards.

Complete actual testing of new products to determine analytical specification range, to be used in finished product specifications.

Maintain orderly records of lab documentation in electronic formats, company portals (Safety Chain) or hard copy formats

Updates and maintains entries in Genesis Foods

Compounds benchtop samples and package samples to meet sales and customer sample requests

Understand the functionality of each ingredient to create clear SOP for mixing; minimize the potential problems on end products.

Ensure successful conversion of Lab recipe to Production batch formula scale up recipe & mixing instructions.

Update mix deck recipe to include new products approved or changes as per SCR, to be consistent with ROSS.

Complete Private Label Specification as per customer required formats including company portal specs up-date.

Ensure that the checklist for new product development is completed before product launch, emphasis on batch check & packaging specifications.

Work with the Mix Deck mixers & helpers during the first 3 productions of new products to ensure that the correct materials are used, validate recipe & mixing instructions.

Conducts shelf-life studies and maintains samples, organized data and captures critical observations

Conducts competitive surveillance & product analysis to benchmark GFF products against competition

Studies the microbiological, physical, and chemical properties of finished products & ingredients.

Assists R&D and Sales department with customer innovation sessions and presentations.

Participates in product evaluation and problem solving, customer complaint root cause analysis, customer product innovation sessions.

Participates in and/or lead continuous improvement activities

Other duties as assigned.